Obama a marker on post-racial path

Donna Brazile says Black History Month is a time to note crossroads the nation has faced. STORY HIGHLIGHTSDonna Brazile: Black History Month themed crossroads, "tied to two pivotal U.S. eventsEmancipation Proclamation, March on Washington were crossroads, she saysShe says crossroad decisions are threaded along U.S. road to post-racial societyBrazile: We're not there yet, but re-election of Obama a...

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Uncertainty as Italian election campaign wraps up

ROME: Italy held its final day of campaigning on Friday ahead of crucial elections, as international investors warned an unclear outcome could shake the economy and set off shockwaves through the Eurozone.Italians will cast their ballots on Sunday and Monday as they grapple with the longest recession in two decades and austerity cuts that have caused deep resentment in the euro area's...

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Teens get strippers; mom arrested

By Jack Maddox, CNNupdated 11:32 PM EST, Wed February 20, 2013STORY HIGHLIGHTSAlbany-area woman is accused of hiring strippers for her son's 16th birthdayJudy Viger, 33, is charged with five counts of endangering the welfare of a childPhotos posted on Facebook alerted the parents of teens who attended(CNN) -- An upstate New York mother is accused of hiring strippers for her son's 16th birthday party...

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Georgia executes man lawyers claimed was mentally ill

JACKSON, Ga. A 38-year-old inmate convicted of killing two college students in 1995 was executed in Georgia on Thursday, apologizing to the families of both victims before being injected at a state prison. Andrew Allen Cook was pronounced dead at 11:22 p.m., about 14 minutes after he was injected with the sedative pentobarbital. He was the first inmate to be executed since the state changed its...

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Arias Challenged On Pedophilia Claim

Accused murderer Jodi Arias was challenged today by phone records, text message records, and her own diary entries that appeared to contradict her claim that she caught her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander, looking at pictures of naked boys.Arias had said during her testimony that one afternoon in January 2008, she walked in on Alexander masturbating to pictures of naked boys....

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How secure is the papal election?

The Conclave of Cardinals that will elect a new pope will meet in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. STORY HIGHLIGHTSBruce Schneier: Rules for picking a new pope are very detailedHe says elaborate precautions are taken to prevent election fraudEvery step of the election process is observed by people who know each otherSchneier: Vatican's procedures, centuries in the making, are very secureEditor's...

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India strike paralyses banks, offices for second day

NEW DELHI: India's public-sector banks and many government offices were shut Thursday on the second day of a general strike called to protest against the government's planned pro-market reforms.Eleven unions called the strike in protest against the measures which they condemn as "anti-poor" and likely to cost jobs and raise prices.While the impact of the stoppage was patchy and felt mainly...

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Pistorius case investigator accused of attempted murder

STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Defense says prosecutors didn't prove that Pistorius committed murderNike suspends its contract with PistoriusA decision in the bail hearing could come as soon as ThursdayCharges against investigator stem from 2009 incident, spokesman says(CNN) -- As Oscar Pistorius returned to court Thursday to seek bail, the sensational case took a new turn when police said the lead investigator...

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Huge, deadly blast hits central Damscus

DAMASCUS, Syria A car bomb shook central Damascus on Thursday, exploding near the headquarters of the ruling Baath party and the Russian Embassy, eyewitnesses and opposition activists said. Syrian state TV also reported the blast in the central Mazraa neighborhood, calling it a "terrorist" attack. It did not say what caused the explosion but reported that there were casualties and that the wounded...

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Arias Leaves Stand After Describing Killing, Her Lies

Jodi Arias stepped down from the witness stand today after mounting an emotional effort to save herself from death row, insisting to the Arizona jury that an explosive fight with ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander led to his death, and that her lies about killing him masked deep regret and plans to commit suicide.Arias, 32, will now face what is expected to be a withering cross-examination...

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